Welcome to the launching webinar of Thematic Working Group (TWG) 1

« Improving the International Ocean Governance Framework »

Facilitation: Sebastian Unger1,2, Ben Boteler1,2, Barbara Neumann2

1 TMG - Think Tank for Sustainability

2 Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)

The main focus of the webinar Launching the International Ocean Governance (IOG) Forum process

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• Presenting the IOG Forum • Presenting and clarifying the focus of Thematic Working

Group (TWG) 1 – Improving the international ocean governance framework

• Presenting the way forward after this launching webinar

Challenges Solutions Questions

Agenda Session I: Setting the scene of the IOG and TWG1

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Time (CEST) Session Speaker

14h00 Welcome and housekeeping/facilitation rules Sebastian Unger (IASS/TMG), Ben Boteler (IASS/TMG) and Barbara Neumann (IASS)

Opening remarks (Video message) Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius (Environment, Oceans and Fisheries)

International Ocean Governance as key to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (Video message)

Peter Thomson (UN Special Envoy for the Oceans)

The EU International Ocean Governance Forum in a nutshell

Veronika Veits (European Commission, DG MARE)

Issues and solutions addressed in TWG1 Sebastian Unger (IASS/TMG)

Agenda Session II: Addressing TWG1 key topics

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Time (CEST) Session Speaker

14h35 Topic 1 - 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG 14

With introductory presentation by David Obura (CORDIO East Africa)

Discussion with introductory comments by Karina Barquet (SEI) Gerald Singh (Memorial University)

Topic 2 - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity With introductory presentation by Kristina Gjerde (IUCN) Discussion with introductory comments by Daniela Diz (University of Strathclyde)

Ronan Long (WMU)

Topic 3 - Climate and ocean nexus With introductory presentation by Jean-Pierre Gattuso (CNRS-Sorbonne University-IDDRI) Discussion with introductory comments by Joanna Post (UNFCCC)

David Freestone (Sargasso Sea Commission)

Agenda Session III: Final words and way forward

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Time (CEST) Session Speaker

15h50 Summary of discussions and follow-up steps Sebastian Unger (IASS/TMG)

Conclusions and words of thanks Hélisène Habart (EEAS) and Marc Richir (European Commission, DG MARE)

16h00 End of the webinar

Co-chairs of TWG1

Before we start Housekeeping rules

• If you need support on zoom functionalities: use the Chat

• If you want to ask questions or contribute to the discussions on the focus of TWG1: use the Q&A Speakers/facilitators will directly answer key questions Unanswered questions are not lost, but will be used to guide us in

designing follow-up steps

• Remember: the video of the webinar will be disseminated

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Session I: Setting the scene of the IOG

and TWG1

« Improving the International Ocean Governance Framework »

Opening remarks (video message)

Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Link to the video: https://twitter.com/EU_MARE/status/1252960180964376577?s=20

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International Ocean Governance as key to achieving Sustainable Development Goals

(video message)

Peter Thomson UN Special Envoy for the Oceans

Link to the video: https://twitter.com/EU_MARE/status/1252968962318614530

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The EU International Ocean Governance Forum in a nutshell

Veronika Veits European Commission, DG MARE

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International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans

50 actions to ensure our oceans are:

• safe

• secure

• clean

• sustainably used

Improve the international ocean governance framework

Reduce pressures and facilitate sustainable blue

economy

Strengthen international ocean research and data

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Progress report: Improving International Ocean Governance – Two years of progress

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All actions are successfully being implemented. Many already

delivered, while work will continue on some actions.

Council Conclusions on Oceans and Seas (14249/19)

• INVITES the Commission to analyse the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate and propose policy response options; CALLS for increased policy action at all governance levels

• SUPPORTS the follow-up and further development of the IOG Agenda

• CALLS ON the EU and its Member States to promote and build capacity for better ocean governance

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International Ocean Governance Forum dedicated to oceans and seas worldwide

• Provide a platform to share understanding, experiences and good practice

• Mobilise stakeholders within and beyond Europe • Support follow-up and further development of the IOG agenda

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Issues and solutions addressed in TWG 1 « Improving the International Ocean

Governance Framework »

Sebastian Unger TMG - Think Tank for Sustainability / Institute for Advanced

Sustainability Studies (IASS)

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Improving the IOG Framework

• Ocean Governance is about managing the use of the ocean to keep it healthy, productive, safe, secure, and resilient

• Joint understanding of TWG 1: the International Ocean Governance (IOG) framework needs to be strengthened

• Taking forward one of three key issues of the Joint Communication “International ocean governance agenda for the future of our oceans”

16 Source: Ocean Atlas, Böll Foundation 2017

Starting points

Improving the IOG Framework Scope of the discussion paper

• Discussion paper addresses challenges and opportunities in IOG processes, and raises key questions for discussion

• Focus:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and other ocean related SDGs

• Marine biological diversity and establishing MPA networks

• Ocean climate nexus

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A first draft produced by the authors and reviewed by external experts and the EC

Not exhaustive but a starting point for our debates

Key challenges in IOG

• Increasing and cumulative pressure

• Compounding effects due to increases in greenhouse gas emissions

• New and emerging activities

• Fragmentation, regulatory and implementation gaps or weaknesses

• New uncertainty added by the COVID-19 pandemic?

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Phytoplankton - the foundation of the oceanic food chain. Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Opportunities for improving IOG Topic 1 - 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG 14

19 Source: Unger, S., et al. (2017). Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal for the Oceans. IASS Policy Brief. IASS. Potsdam.

• Leveraging interlinkages in implementation of 2030 Agenda and SDG 14

• Accelerating progress in reaching SDG 14 targets, e.g.

• by developing more robust pledge & review for Voluntary Commitments

• through regional coordination of implementation, follow-up and review

• Addressing SDG 14 targets missed this year and developing guidance for post-2020

Opportunities for improving IOG Topic 2 - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity

• Major processes:

− Legally-binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of BBNJ

− Aichi Biodiversity Targets (CBD), updated in the context of the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

• Area-based management, including networks of marine protected areas (MPAs)

• Ecosystem-based management and sustainable ocean-use outside of MPAs

Brown sea turtle. Photo by Kris Mikael Krister on Unsplash

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Opportunities for improving IOG Topic 3 - Climate and ocean nexus

• Strong potential for both mitigation and adaptation and building of resilience

• Key processes to address the ocean and climate nexus under the Paris Agreement:

− Ocean-based measures in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

− Ocean Dialogue at SBSTA52 and COP 26 (Glasgow, UK)

Wave Photo by Gaetano Cessati on Unsplash

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Questions for clarification on the IOG Forum and its TWG1?

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Session II: Addressing TWG1 key topics

« Improving the Ocean Governance Framework »

Topic 1 - 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG 14

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The SDGs as a narrative or model for identifying synergies across scales

David Obura CORDIO East Africa

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www.cordioea.net @dobura

Multiple perspectives on the SDGs…

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International Council for Science (ICSU), 2017. A Guide to SDG Interactions: from Science to Implementation [D.J. Griggs, M. Nilsson, A. Stevance, D. McCollum (eds)]. International Council for Science, Paris

Obura, D.O. (2020). Getting to 2030 - Scaling effort to ambition through a narrative model of the SDGs. Marine Policy. Doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103973

Illustration by Azote Images for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University URL: https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/research-news/2016-06-14-how-food-connects-all-the-sdgs.html Accessed April 2, 2020

Enabling regional approaches • neither SDG 14 nor the other goals of the 2030 Agenda

can be achieved in isolation

• foster co-benefits across linked goals – context and situation-dependent

• fragmented governance, particularly in relation to the ocean and region scale

• progress reporting on SDG implementation, and of voluntary commitments

• Lack of progress towards targets, and dealing with timelines

• Key questions …

27 Obura, D.O. (2020). Getting to 2030 - Scaling effort to ambition through a narrative model of the SDGs. Marine Policy. Doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103973

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sustainable fishing Fish catch

jobs, economy, 8 # fishers income valuation

Monitoring and measurement Direct benefits Natural asset/reef health

Reef health, 14 Corals/algae Fish biomass/abudance

improved health, 3 health

reduced hunger, 2 food nutrition

poverty, 1 % below

poverty line

climate, 13 thermal stress

Contextual/enabling

clean water, 6 nutrients

life on land, 15 Coastal vegetation

reduced inequalities, 10 equality

gender, 5 disaggregation

Coastal settlements, 11 population density

education, 4 Ocean literacy

just societies, 16 governance management

partnerships, 17 funding, participation

Means of implementation/enabling

… holistically Indirect benefits

For example, a coral reef

fishery

Using the SDGs to support regional ocean governance … • develop narratives for building consensus and

complementarity – among countries and partners

• build models for identifying key interactions, dependencies and tradeoffs

• build theories of change for evaluating outcomes, including for voluntary commitments

• prepare checklists/matrices for planning, monitoring and assessment

(output/tangible -> outcome/high level indicators) Obura, D.O. (2020). Getting to 2030 - Scaling effort to ambition through a narrative model of the SDGs. Marine Policy. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103973

www.cordioea.net/sdgmodel 29

Discussion with introductory comments

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Comments by Karina Barquet, Stockholm Environment Institute

Gerald Singh, Memorial University

Key questions

Topic 1 - 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG 14

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• How to accelerate the implementation of SDG 14 as well as other ocean related SDGs?

• How to deal with maturing targets and how to integrate newly set targets, e.g. as agreed as part of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework?

• What are possible approaches to address interlinkages between SDGs? • How to deal with cross-sectoral and cross-boundary marine related

issues?

• What forms of cooperation should be developed to best help to translate global ambitions and targets into coordinated action?

Topic 2 - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity

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Conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity

Kristina Maria Gjerde IUCN, Senior High Seas Advisor, and Adjunct Professor at Middlebury Institute of

International Studies at Monterey, California

with Siddharth Shekhar Yadav

Advisor to the Ambassador on Climate Change, Oceans and BBNJ at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Vanuatu to the United Nations, New York

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Key challenges in Ocean Governance• Increasing and cumulative pressures as well as uncertainties

• Fragmented and gap-filled ocean governance framework

• Multiple knowledge gaps hinder ability to respond

• COVID-19 pandemic increases uncertainties and inequities

• Challenges common at many levels

https://www.unep-wcmc.org/system/dataset_file_fields/files/000/000/446/original/ABNJ_Institutional_Arrangements_final_for_publication_300517.pdf?1496144106

“And coastal States may never know what they have lost by ignoring ABNJ”

Report: Boteler et al. 2019. “ Ecological Baselines for the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific: Status of Marine Biodiversity and Anthropogenic Pressures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” STRONG High Seas Project, 2019.

Maps: Popova et al. 2019. “Ecological connectivity between the areas beyond national jurisdiction and coastal waters: Safeguarding interests of coastal communities in developing Countries” Marine Policy 104; 90–102

“And coastal States may never know what they have lost by ignoring ABNJ”

Report: Boteler et al. 2019. “Ecological Baselines for the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific: Status of Marine Biodiversity and Anthropogenic Pressures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, STRONG High Seas Project, 2019.

Maps: Popova et al. 2019. “Ecological connectivity between the areas beyond national jurisdiction and coastal waters: Safeguarding interests of coastal communities in developing Countries” Marine Policy 104; 90–102

2017: BBNJ Negotiations launched!

Measures such as area-

based management tools & EIAs

Marine genetic

resources

Cross-cutting issues

Capacity-building & transfer of

marine technology

UNGA Resolution A/72/249

• Package deal

• Not undermine

• Aim for consensus

• Wide participation

• Four meetings over two years

• Fourth session: 23 March – 3 April 2020 (now postponed)

Finding common ground remains illusive. Can we focus on resilience?

https://applyingresilience.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/04/What_is_resilience_ENG_aktiv.pdfhttps://applyingresilience.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/04/Applying_resilience_thinking.pdf/

See also: Biggs, R., Schluter, M., Schoon, M.L. (eds.) (2015) Principles for building resilience: Sustaining ecosystem services in socio-ecological systems. Cambridge University Press

Principles for Building Resilience

Maintain Diversity

and Redundancy

Manage Connectivity

Manage Slow

Variables and

Feedback

Foster 'Complex Adaptive Systems' Thinking

Encourage Learning

Broaden Participation

Promote Polycentric Governance

S. Shekhar Yadav and KM Gjerde (in review) “The Ocean, Climate Change and Resilience: Making ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction more resilient to climate change and other anthropogenic activities” (Graphic designed by Siddharth Shekhar Yadav, based on Biggs et al, 2015)

Seven Principles for Building Ecological and Institutional Resilience in ABNJ

Principles for Building Resilience

Maintain Diversity and Redundancy

Manage Connectivity

Manage Slow

Variables and

Feedback

Foster 'Complex Adaptive Systems' Thinking

Encourage Learning

Broaden Participation

Promote Polycentric Governance

See S. Shekhar Yadav and KM Gjerde (in review) “The Ocean, Climate Change and Resilience: Making ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction more resilient to climate change and other anthropogenic activities”

Seven Principles for Building Resilience in ABNJ

1. Maintain diversity and redundancy: the more diverse, the more resilient; overlap in functions of species and institutions contributes to resilience

2. Manage connectivity: ensure connectivity is part of planning and coordination of conservation measures

3. Manage slow variables and feedbacks: integrated monitoring and management can strengthen ability to prevent shifts in variables that can be sudden yet hard to reverse

4. Foster complex adaptive systems thinking: dynamic, adaptive and integrated approaches required to address systemic issues in context of increasing uncertainty and unpredictability

5. Encourage learning: socio-ecological systems upon which we depend are dynamic and changing; constant learning and re-evaluation of existing knowledge is therefore crucial

6. Broaden participation: ensure participation of a range of stakeholders and interested actors in order to build trust, relationships and shared understanding

7. Promote polycentric governance systems: collaboration across institutions enhances learning and ability to swiftly deal with change and disturbance

(Graphic designed by Siddharth Shekhar Yadav, based on Biggs et al, 2015)

Capacities and means of implementation forbuilding institutional and ecological resilience

• Integrated ecological assessments

• Spatial planning and management: MPA networks plus other conservation and management measures, including dynamic measures

• Access to data and technology

• Connectivity:

• Marine Genetic Resources

• Sustained financial support: $$ to build capacity and action

• Institutional strengthening: for resilience in times of rapid change

NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017: American Samoa

Finishing the unfinished business of UNCLOS

Cosmic Jelly, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017: American Samoa

Kristina M. Gjerde kgjerde@eip.com.pl

Thank you!

Questions? Feel free to contact me:

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Discussion with introductory comments

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Comments by Daniela Diz, University of Strathclyde

Ronan Long, World Maritime University

Key questions Topic 2 - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity

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• What key scientific questions need to be addressed to develop a coherent global network of effective and well-managed MPAs, including in ABNJ?

• What are key capacities and means of implementation required? What is needed in the designation and implementation process and how could the EU provide support?

• What regulatory issues need to be addressed? • What financial means will be required to realize global MPA targets and how could

innovative financing solutions support this vision?

• How to ensure that MPA networks are complemented by effective ecosystem-based management that addresses key pressures, also outside of MPAs?

Topic 3 - Climate and ocean nexus

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The ocean: an actor and a victim of climate change but also a source of

solutions

Jean-Pierre Gattuso CNRS, Sorbonne University and Iddri

gattuso@obs-vlfr.fr - @jpGattuso

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Discussion with introductory comments

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Comments by Joanna Post, UNFCCC

David Freestone, Sargasso Sea Commission

Key questions Topic 3 - Unfolding the climate and ocean nexus

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• What are possible steps to accelerate nature-and other ocean-based solutions for climate action?

• How to move towards a supportive ocean governance framework that facilitates decisive climate action and how could the EU best support related efforts?

• What are possible options to focus the UNFCCC processes more adequately on the ocean, including its regulatory framework?

• How could RFMOs, Regional Sea Conventions and other relevant global organisations with ocean-related mandates develop coping strategies for the upcoming changes?

• How could science-policy interfaces help to shape adequate ocean-governance responses taking into account the large scale and long-term changes?

A Tale of Two Cities – Montego Bay and Paris

David Freestone Sargasso Sea Commission

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A Tale of Two Cities – Montego Bay and Paris The 1992 UNFCCC recognizes the significance of the oceans and marine ecosystems as sinks (art 4(1)(d)) 2015 Paris Agreement Preamble refers to the importance of “ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans …” BUT Paris obligations are directed at State Parties

• States only have jurisdiction over the activities of their nationals or over those parts of the ocean where they have sovereignty – such as in the territorial sea – or sovereign rights – such as the EEZ or continental shelf.

• Not ABNJ 70% of current NDCs under the Paris Agreement include some mention of ocean/marine issues (Gallo et al, 2017).

• coastal impacts (95 NDCs), ocean warming impacts (77 NDCs), and fisheries impacts (72 NDCs

• activities in national maritime zones. 64

How could the Paris regime link better with the Open Ocean regime ? Some thoughts … Could we have (Open) Ocean Determined Contribution(s) ? Incentives for Collaborative, Regulated and Sustainable Mitigation Activities in ABNJ?

• Increasing animal biomass has been shown to increase carbon fixing in the ocean – cannot be done unilaterally ? • Establishment of MPAs/refugia for fish has been shown to increase fish biomass ? • Sea weed farming ? • Reduction of existing carbon emitting activities in ABNJ ?

Who would regulate ? • Note lessons of ocean fertilization proposals/London Convention • Existing regional and sectoral organizations ? • New BBNJ ABMT “legal frameworks” (Art 19 BBNJ draft text) ?

A Role for UNFCCC SBSTA? – slow progress on ocean acidification Would UNFCCC/Paris Parties accept thematic DCs? Increase ambition by bolting onto existing NDCs ? Role for EU ? Unparalleled experience of regional co-ordination Links to incentives envisaged for “Sustainable Development mechanism” under proposed Paris Rule Book (Art 6, Paris) Could such proposals relate to existing NDCs – under Art 6(2) or 6(4) - as an incentive cf EU Bubble under Kyoto … 65

Key questions Topic 3 - Unfolding the climate and ocean nexus

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• What are possible steps to accelerate nature-and other ocean-based solutions for climate action?

• How to move towards a supportive ocean governance framework that facilitates decisive climate action and how could the EU best support related efforts?

• What are possible options to focus the UNFCCC processes more adequately on the ocean, including its regulatory framework?

• How could RFMOs, Regional Sea Conventions and other relevant global organisations with ocean-related mandates develop coping strategies for the upcoming changes?

• How could science-policy interfaces help to shape adequate ocean-governance responses taking into account the large scale and long-term changes?

Session III: Final words and way forward

« Improving the Ocean Governance Framework »

The way forward Sharing your evaluation of the webinar

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• Online – as you leave the webinar room

The way forward The video of the webinar

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• Do help us in disseminating it very widely within your own communities (including via social media)

The way forward A series of topic-dedicated online workshops

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• Building on the outcome of today’s webinar and your evaluations

• Mobilising experts in proposed topics

• Discussing solutions to strengthen International Ocean Governance, and preconditions for successful implementation

• To take place between May and July, 2020 (dates to be confirmed)

The way forward An online stakeholder consultation in summer 2020

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• An online stakeholder-based consultation will be conducted in order to gain further ideas and expertise

• The consultation will focus on identifying key opportunities in international ocean governance for action and preconditions for successful implementation

The way forward An IOG Forum conference as intermediary milestone

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• Sharing and consolidating the results of these first consultation steps

• 9 to 11 December, 2020, in Brussels

The way forward The final IOG Forum conference

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• Presenting the results of the IOG Forum to support further development of international ocean governance and key actions of the EU

• Spring 2021, in Brussels

Conclusions and words of thanks

Hélisène Habart, EEAS Marc Richir, EC, DG MARE

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Many thanks for your participation! #TogetherAtHome

EU-Ocean-Governance-Forum@ec.europa.eu